Frey, Mary Anna Wittmer (1885-1972)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Mar 16 p. 11

Birth date: 1885 Apr 14

text of obituary:

MRS. OTTO F. FREY

Mary Anna Frey, daughter of Peter E. and Magdalena Schantz Wittmer, was born near Noble, Iowa on April 14, 1885. Soon afterward the family moved to a farm near Wayland, where she grew up with a large family of brothers and sisters. She attended the Wayland School.

The family attended the Eicher Emmanuel Mennonite Church. On May 24, 1903, she was baptized into the fellowship by Rev. S. M. Musselman and remained a life-long member of the church. She was a charter member of the Ladies Mission Society. For a few years she taught children's Sunday school classes and for a much longer time taught the class of ladies in her own age group.

She married Otto Frederick Frey on Jan. 31, 1915, and they made their home in Noble. Otto had been in the store business first with his father, then with Mary's brother Sam Wittmer, finally taking over the business completely after a fire in 1919. At times she helped with the work in the store, though most of her time went to the care of her husband and their two sons, Vernon and Orlin.

During the past year or so her health failed. After several months in the Washington County Hospital Long Term Care Unit, she quietly passed away on Feb. 10, 1972, at the age of 86. Funeral services were held the afternoon of Feb. 12 in the Eicher church with Pastor Nick Kassebaum in charge. Burial was in the Eicher Cemetery.

She leaves to mourn her passing her husband, Otto, who has been in the Washington Care Unit following two strokes suffered last summer; her son, Vernon, of the home; her daughter-in-law, Esther Frey and three children of Mt. Morris, Ill.; her sisters, Mrs. Selina Zieglowski and Mrs. Lydia Krabill, of Wayland; and three sisters-in-law, Mrs. Noah Wittmer of mt. Pleasant, Mrs. Ezra Wittmer and Mrs. Joe Wittmer, all of Wayland.

She was preceded in death by her son Orlin, eight brothers and one sister. her family and her many friends cherish the memory of her quiet and loving work and presence.

The Mennonite obituary: 1972 Mar 14 p. 182